Saturday, December 6, 2008

"Hiroshima, Mon Amour" actress returns to the city after 50 years

by Chris MaGee

French actress Emmanuelle Riva has returned to the site of one of her most famous film roles. Riva starred alongside Eiji Okada in Alain Resnais' seminal 1959 French New Wave film "Hiroshima, Mon Amour" as a nurse stationed in post-war Hiroshima who's involved with a Japanese man. Portions of the film were shot in the city by Japanese cinematographer Michio Takahashi.

The reason for Riva's return? The now 81-year-old actress is in Hiroshima to take part in an exhibition of photographs that she took of the reconstruction of the city while shooting on location in 1958. "I feel happy that the city has recovered to grow big and beautiful," she told reporters, "It is peace that all of the people are strongly hoping for."

With my own memories of spending a week in Hiroshima I can't agree with Riva more. It is truly a beautiful city, Thanks to Japan Today for this story.